IUCN threat status:

Distribution

Range Description

Zosterops modestus was thought to survive only in three tiny areas on Mahé, Seychelles and appeared to be declining inexorably towards extinction. In 1996, only 25-35 individuals were known (Rocamora 1997a). In 1997, a previously unknown population was discovered on Conception (Rocamora 1997a). In 1997, this island was estimated to hold "at least 250" individuals (Rocamora and Francois 1999), with c.50 more on Mahé (G. Rocamora in litt. 1999). The population on Conception was estimated at c.275 (244-336) individuals in 1999 and at c.230 (189-266) in 2006, and may be fluctuating or slightly decreasing (R. Bristol in litt. 2004, G. Rocamora in litt. 2007). The population on Mahé was estimated at c.50 birds in 1997 (G. Rocamora in litt. 2007) and at c.60 birds in 2006, and appears to have slightly increased (G. Rocamora in litt. 2007). The transfer of 37 individuals from Conception to Frégate Island in 2001 and 2003 have resulted in the establishment of an estimated population of c.100 individuals there in 2007 (G. Rocamora in litt. 2007), and an estimated total of c.400 individuals in 2007. Further translocations took place in 2007, when 25 birds were transferred to North Island, and 23 to Cousine (Rocamora and Henriette-Payet 2009). Habitat quantity and quality are both increasing (due to rat eradications and restoration programmes in the islands where the species has been transferred) (G. Rocamora in litt. 2007). Results from a monitoring programme started since 1996 indicate a moderate increase in the total population (G. Rocamora in litt. 2007), which was estimated at c.400 birds in 2007 (Rocamora and Henriette-Payet 2009).